The West Coast Story

"The Ocean and surfing are the two best metaphors for life I can think of. No matter where I’ve ended up on this journey, the coast has always called me back, and the surf has kept me sane. Growing up on the West Coast, the beach was my whole world. As a child, I’d spend hours lounging naked in the white sand and cruising around in our canoe and sailboat. If you look at our physical bodies, were actually more similar to the ocean than we are to the earth. There’s a feeling of returning home, back to the place where it all began, that really resonates with humanity. Water is life, and it also mirrors our emotional states, from hurricanes, to calm, glassy days. Our lives are governed by cycles, like ocean swells, with highs and lows, and it’s how we choose to ride them that defines who we are. Surfing is the manifestation of this philosophy, and it’s so extremely difficult because we’re floating on organized chaos. It teaches you to be courageous, patient, humble, and present. After you drag yourself back onto dry land, whether beaten up, or enlightened, you always come out happier, healthier, and more balanced, because its teachings are the best medicine there is. This canvas was inspired by those evening surf checks on the coastal bluffs, chasing the sun as the embers fade. Dive deep, flow with the sea, it will always set you free."

-Andrew Talbot-